Maybe because it was in the same house (but not under the same roof, Chase Field’s retractable being open Friday night). But Gerrit Cole’s gem against the D-backs reminded me of a seminal pitching effort of a few years ago.

I watched a studly right-hander, pitching for Arizona, pour strike after unhittable strike over the plate and thought, “This guy might have a chance.” His name? Max Scherzer.

Cole displayed the same command. He worked through 108 pitches, but did not throw his 23rd ball until the eighth inning. Most remarkable, in my eyes, was how effortless he made it look. You wouldn’t think he was throwing near 100 mph if the radar reading wasn’t there to tell you.

That natural deception must throw off hitters, too. …

Andrew McCutchen alert: He went hitless for a third straight start — overall 0-for-12 — and that usually serves him as a launching pad for a hot streak. McCutchen doesn’t have too many lulls like this, but he followed up three instances of 0-for-10s last season by going a collective 43-for-114 (.377).

After three consecutive hitless games in May, McCutchen included 10 multi-hit games in his next 15, hitting .410 (25-for-61) over that span. …

Now you know why his beard is growing: After Andrew Lambo hit another vicious liner into another out, teammates continued to keep sharp objects away from him. … 

Clint Hurdle’s honest, candid evaluation of Jung Ho Kang: “Right now, he isn’t better than Harrison. He isn’t better than Mercer. He isn’t better than Walker. But we believe he will eventually be a very good Major League player.” …